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Ode to the Half-Broken
Forty years ago, the world nearly ended.
Be is an old robot who was there, and doesn’t want to think about what happened, or what role they played in that conflict. They have settled into a life of isolation in the abandoned ruins of an old mill in the former New York Botanical Gardens, disinterested in what has happened in the outside world since they stepped away from the war. Someone out there, though, has not forgotten about them, and when they are attacked, their person vandalized, and one of their leg stolen, they set out to find the thief accompanied by a cyborg dog and a human mechanic.
The world has changed, but the recovery from the war is uneven and faltering, and Be begins to suspect a malicious hand trying to rekindle the old conflict and finish what was started. In order to stop them, Be needs to come to terms with both their own past and who they have become, and how everything and everyone else they knew has changed in their absence. Being left alone is no longer an option, and peace may be impossible.
This is a story about coming to terms with your past, with who you’ve become and who you still want to be: a tale of resilence and hope, an ode to those struggling to become whole in a world half-broken.
Be is an old robot who was there, and doesn’t want to think about what happened, or what role they played in that conflict. They have settled into a life of isolation in the abandoned ruins of an old mill in the former New York Botanical Gardens, disinterested in what has happened in the outside world since they stepped away from the war. Someone out there, though, has not forgotten about them, and when they are attacked, their person vandalized, and one of their leg stolen, they set out to find the thief accompanied by a cyborg dog and a human mechanic.
The world has changed, but the recovery from the war is uneven and faltering, and Be begins to suspect a malicious hand trying to rekindle the old conflict and finish what was started. In order to stop them, Be needs to come to terms with both their own past and who they have become, and how everything and everyone else they knew has changed in their absence. Being left alone is no longer an option, and peace may be impossible.
This is a story about coming to terms with your past, with who you’ve become and who you still want to be: a tale of resilence and hope, an ode to those struggling to become whole in a world half-broken.
442 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 412 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
”Sometimes, we cease to fit into a continuation of our past because we are broken, but more often, we cease to fit because we have grown.”
the idea of a post-apocalyptic New York told through the pov of a mech with a cyborg dog as its companion sounded like something I would love, but this fell so flat for me. i could not connect to the characters and the pacing dragged the whole way. there were some good ideas and messages here, i just failed to feel any emotion though bc i felt so removed from the story. idk if it’s a me thing or the writing itself, maybe i also had too high expectations but im left a bit dissatisfied.
↠ thanks to NetGalley, the author and DAW Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
the idea of a post-apocalyptic New York told through the pov of a mech with a cyborg dog as its companion sounded like something I would love, but this fell so flat for me. i could not connect to the characters and the pacing dragged the whole way. there were some good ideas and messages here, i just failed to feel any emotion though bc i felt so removed from the story. idk if it’s a me thing or the writing itself, maybe i also had too high expectations but im left a bit dissatisfied.
↠ thanks to NetGalley, the author and DAW Books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.0 Stars
This was a beautifully written, heart warming post apocalyptic story told from the perspective of a robot. This gave me similar vibes to Becky Chambers Monk and Robot Novellas but personally I enjoyed this one more because it had more plot. In terms of pacing, this had a slower, contemplative narrative which fit the tone of the story well. While technically a piece of science fiction, I feel this one has wider appeal because it's more a story about humanity rather than technology.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy literary speculative fiction with depth and a slow burning plot.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was a beautifully written, heart warming post apocalyptic story told from the perspective of a robot. This gave me similar vibes to Becky Chambers Monk and Robot Novellas but personally I enjoyed this one more because it had more plot. In terms of pacing, this had a slower, contemplative narrative which fit the tone of the story well. While technically a piece of science fiction, I feel this one has wider appeal because it's more a story about humanity rather than technology.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy literary speculative fiction with depth and a slow burning plot.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley & the publishers for a chance to review this arc!!
4.25✨
Ode to the half-broken is a sci-fi about a broken world after wars. The writing was hauntingly beautiful & managed to be hopeful amidst the difficult topics.
I would sincerely recommend this to everyone, especially in today’s world. The author slips in a lot of significant messages & thoughts.
The stars of this book are really the characters. We start off following an unnamed robot & Atticus the dog. Other significant characters are picked up along the way. The plot is very engaging and I didn’t see everything coming. A few things made me emotional!
I highly recommend this. It was a very thought provoking read.
4.25✨
Ode to the half-broken is a sci-fi about a broken world after wars. The writing was hauntingly beautiful & managed to be hopeful amidst the difficult topics.
I would sincerely recommend this to everyone, especially in today’s world. The author slips in a lot of significant messages & thoughts.
The stars of this book are really the characters. We start off following an unnamed robot & Atticus the dog. Other significant characters are picked up along the way. The plot is very engaging and I didn’t see everything coming. A few things made me emotional!
I highly recommend this. It was a very thought provoking read.
July 22, 2026
I’m too hard-hearted for cosy, utterly hopeful books like this. The best part was the talking sarcastic dog who provided the wit and fun in an otherwise predictable and plodding book.
In a post-apocalyptic Earth, a grumpy retired mech living in the New York Botanical Gardens wakes up in a bathtub missing a leg. Joined by a chatty cyborg dog and a human mechanic, they must track the thief and thwart a plot to reignite an old war.
I can see why this is marketed to fans of Becky Chambers. However, I enjoyed Chambers’s funny, quirky cast of characters more than the ragtag crew here - despite following very similar blueprints.
I have to acknowledge I rarely love books with a robotic main character. I’m thinking of Murderbot, Klara and the Sun (although I did really enjoy Annie Bot and LOVED Of Monsters and Mainframes, so maybe it’s cosy AI novels).
This isn’t all cosy. It veers between a reality steeped in horror and evil, ugly people. But then it’s like, ‘get on the family bus, friends - we’re continuing our adventure because we all accept and respect each other’.
Maybe I’m too disenchanted because everyone else is raving about this.🤷🏼♀️
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In a post-apocalyptic Earth, a grumpy retired mech living in the New York Botanical Gardens wakes up in a bathtub missing a leg. Joined by a chatty cyborg dog and a human mechanic, they must track the thief and thwart a plot to reignite an old war.
I can see why this is marketed to fans of Becky Chambers. However, I enjoyed Chambers’s funny, quirky cast of characters more than the ragtag crew here - despite following very similar blueprints.
I have to acknowledge I rarely love books with a robotic main character. I’m thinking of Murderbot, Klara and the Sun (although I did really enjoy Annie Bot and LOVED Of Monsters and Mainframes, so maybe it’s cosy AI novels).
This isn’t all cosy. It veers between a reality steeped in horror and evil, ugly people. But then it’s like, ‘get on the family bus, friends - we’re continuing our adventure because we all accept and respect each other’.
Maybe I’m too disenchanted because everyone else is raving about this.🤷🏼♀️
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Tiktok
November 4, 2025
What a treat this was! Ode to the Half-Broken follows an unusual group on a journey through a post-apocalyptic United States. It is equal parts heartwarming and gripping; the comparisons to Becky Chambers' beloved A Psalm for the Wild-Built are evident in the themes, the philosophical musings, and most obviously in the design of our main character, Be, and the existence of their freed mecha society. However, I wouldn't say its fair to lump this too closely together with Chambers' work - it deviates too far from that "cozy" atmosphere, as the tension ramps up quickly and a compelling mystery begins to unfold.
It is clear that there was much love and attention paid to the world building for this near-future landscape. The conflicts, escalations, and bleak outlook we glimpsed in the flashbacks feel all too believable, and they expertly set the stage for the way the world is in the present tense. There are also frequent explorations into the mechanical workings of the mecha themselves, as we learn how they came to be, which I found interesting but did at times interrupt the pacing of the story - and I could see this getting overly technical for a certain subset of sci-fi readers.
All that said, the real stars of the book are the characters. The crew we collect along the way were all so immediately endearing to me, it would be hard to pick a favorite. I'm a sucker for a found-family take on a sci-fi adventure, and Palmer delivered in spades. Even setting aside our four main players, every new character we met along the journey was unique and (mostly) lovable, something that can be hard for authors to do with human characters, let alone robotic ones.
This is a really beautiful story about the resilience adaptability of living things, what it really means to be alive, and the importance of not running from your past. 5/5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley & DAW publishing for this ARC!
It is clear that there was much love and attention paid to the world building for this near-future landscape. The conflicts, escalations, and bleak outlook we glimpsed in the flashbacks feel all too believable, and they expertly set the stage for the way the world is in the present tense. There are also frequent explorations into the mechanical workings of the mecha themselves, as we learn how they came to be, which I found interesting but did at times interrupt the pacing of the story - and I could see this getting overly technical for a certain subset of sci-fi readers.
All that said, the real stars of the book are the characters. The crew we collect along the way were all so immediately endearing to me, it would be hard to pick a favorite. I'm a sucker for a found-family take on a sci-fi adventure, and Palmer delivered in spades. Even setting aside our four main players, every new character we met along the journey was unique and (mostly) lovable, something that can be hard for authors to do with human characters, let alone robotic ones.
This is a really beautiful story about the resilience adaptability of living things, what it really means to be alive, and the importance of not running from your past. 5/5 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley & DAW publishing for this ARC!
Want to Read
March 27, 2026IMPORTANT NOTE FOR ANIMAL LOVERS LIKE ME:
A Note From the Publisher
A Must Read when bed rot strikes. This hopeful story amid cataclysm is a perfect bandaid for a wounded heart.
(P.S. For anyone still traumatized by I Am Legend, let me set your fears at ease: the dog lives! You can enjoy safely. 😊)
A Note From the Publisher
A Must Read when bed rot strikes. This hopeful story amid cataclysm is a perfect bandaid for a wounded heart.
(P.S. For anyone still traumatized by I Am Legend, let me set your fears at ease: the dog lives! You can enjoy safely. 😊)
June 6, 2026
The writing itself is genuinely gorgeous. Suzanne Palmer has this restrained, almost delicate prose style that never strains for beauty but keeps arriving there anyway. Certain lines land so quietly that they sneak up on you. The emotional atmosphere of the novel is probably what affected me most: exhaustion, grief, longing, emotional damage, tenderness. It all feels deeply felt rather than manufactured.
What surprised me, though, is that despite how much I admired the emotional texture of the book, I never fully connected with the actual story underneath it. The strange thing is that on paper this should have worked perfectly for me. The wounded characters, the introspective tone, the emphasis on emotional repair and fractured relationships. Normally that kind of material pulls me in immediately. But here, something about the personalities themselves kept me slightly outside the experience. Not because they were badly written; quite the opposite. They felt intentionally messy, guarded, emotionally exhausted. But the attachment never fully formed for me in the way I expected it to. It almost felt like standing outside a beautifully lit house and being able to see warmth through the windows without ever fully stepping inside it.
The plot had a similar effect. The emotional stakes are always present, and the novel clearly cares much more about interior wounds than dramatic external momentum, but after a while the narrative started feeling emotionally recursive. Conversations, hesitations, emotional retreats, reconnections — all thoughtfully written, all believable, but eventually circling similar emotional terrain often enough that the story itself began losing shape for me.
Which honestly made the whole experience more frustrating in a weird way, because the talent on display is undeniable. Palmer absolutely knows how to write emotional intimacy. She knows how to create melancholy without melodrama, vulnerability without sentimentality. There are scenes in this book that feel almost painfully sincere. And maybe that’s part of why I kept wanting to connect with it more deeply than I actually did.
It was the emotional residue of the thing. The tenderness toward damaged people. The exhaustion. The quiet attempts at reaching across loneliness even when nobody fully knows how anymore. There’s a lot of feeling in this novel. A lot of care. A lot of beauty. It simply never quite became emotionally alive for me in the way I kept hoping it would.
What surprised me, though, is that despite how much I admired the emotional texture of the book, I never fully connected with the actual story underneath it. The strange thing is that on paper this should have worked perfectly for me. The wounded characters, the introspective tone, the emphasis on emotional repair and fractured relationships. Normally that kind of material pulls me in immediately. But here, something about the personalities themselves kept me slightly outside the experience. Not because they were badly written; quite the opposite. They felt intentionally messy, guarded, emotionally exhausted. But the attachment never fully formed for me in the way I expected it to. It almost felt like standing outside a beautifully lit house and being able to see warmth through the windows without ever fully stepping inside it.
The plot had a similar effect. The emotional stakes are always present, and the novel clearly cares much more about interior wounds than dramatic external momentum, but after a while the narrative started feeling emotionally recursive. Conversations, hesitations, emotional retreats, reconnections — all thoughtfully written, all believable, but eventually circling similar emotional terrain often enough that the story itself began losing shape for me.
Which honestly made the whole experience more frustrating in a weird way, because the talent on display is undeniable. Palmer absolutely knows how to write emotional intimacy. She knows how to create melancholy without melodrama, vulnerability without sentimentality. There are scenes in this book that feel almost painfully sincere. And maybe that’s part of why I kept wanting to connect with it more deeply than I actually did.
It was the emotional residue of the thing. The tenderness toward damaged people. The exhaustion. The quiet attempts at reaching across loneliness even when nobody fully knows how anymore. There’s a lot of feeling in this novel. A lot of care. A lot of beauty. It simply never quite became emotionally alive for me in the way I kept hoping it would.
May 26, 2026
Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer is an exceptional science fiction novel that balances emotional depth with imaginative worldbuilding and compelling storytelling. Palmer creates a vivid post-apocalyptic setting that feels both believable and hopeful, using it to explore themes of resilience, healing, identity, and connection with remarkable nuance.
What makes this novel stand out most is its character work. The protagonist is complex, deeply human, and easy to invest in, and the relationships throughout the story are handled with warmth and authenticity. The found-family dynamic develops naturally, adding emotional weight to both the quieter moments and the higher-stakes conflicts. Palmer’s writing is thoughtful and engaging, with a steady pace that keeps the story moving while still allowing space for reflection and character growth.
What affected me most, however, was the novel’s powerful expression of loss and loneliness. The emotional undercurrent running through the story felt incredibly honest and deeply moving, capturing the quiet ache of isolation in a way that genuinely spoke to my soul. Even in its most painful moments, the story never loses sight of hope, compassion, and the possibility of healing.
The novel also succeeds in blending genres seamlessly. It offers thoughtful speculative ideas, moments of tension and mystery, and genuine emotional resonance without ever losing its sense of optimism.
Thank you Suzanne Palmer, DAW and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What makes this novel stand out most is its character work. The protagonist is complex, deeply human, and easy to invest in, and the relationships throughout the story are handled with warmth and authenticity. The found-family dynamic develops naturally, adding emotional weight to both the quieter moments and the higher-stakes conflicts. Palmer’s writing is thoughtful and engaging, with a steady pace that keeps the story moving while still allowing space for reflection and character growth.
What affected me most, however, was the novel’s powerful expression of loss and loneliness. The emotional undercurrent running through the story felt incredibly honest and deeply moving, capturing the quiet ache of isolation in a way that genuinely spoke to my soul. Even in its most painful moments, the story never loses sight of hope, compassion, and the possibility of healing.
The novel also succeeds in blending genres seamlessly. It offers thoughtful speculative ideas, moments of tension and mystery, and genuine emotional resonance without ever losing its sense of optimism.
Thank you Suzanne Palmer, DAW and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2025
Thank you to netgalley for this review copy! This was a fantastic read, I binged the entire book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. The story follows Be starting from what seems like a fairly innocuous but inconvenient robbery of their leg, into a vastly bigger plot that sees Be and others exploring various locations in a post-apocalyptic USA to uncover the truth behind what’s happening in the world.
I think the comparisons to Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot duology are helpful to show what sort of book to expect, although the stakes felt higher in Ode to the Half-Broken. However, we see similar themes across this novel including what it really means to be human. I also loved exploring the elements of what would happen to a world with significantly more advanced AI than we see today, that then faced natural disasters, wars, and pandemics.
Although the world-building is fantastic, real enough for you to grasp very quickly, it’s the characters that really make this book. Not just our main characters (Atticus will live in my heart forever), but every single side character was an absolute joy. I could - and would - read an entire series set in this universe just following those characters in their daily life. I need to know what happens after the end of the book. The ending was slightly abrupt, especially considering I had become extremely attached to these characters, but I’m hoping that leaves room for continuation.
Overall, this was a five star read for me. It was utterly wholesome, even if some of the action did have me feeling tense, and the characters will burrow their way into your heart and have you laughing aloud.
I think the comparisons to Becky Chambers’ Monk and Robot duology are helpful to show what sort of book to expect, although the stakes felt higher in Ode to the Half-Broken. However, we see similar themes across this novel including what it really means to be human. I also loved exploring the elements of what would happen to a world with significantly more advanced AI than we see today, that then faced natural disasters, wars, and pandemics.
Although the world-building is fantastic, real enough for you to grasp very quickly, it’s the characters that really make this book. Not just our main characters (Atticus will live in my heart forever), but every single side character was an absolute joy. I could - and would - read an entire series set in this universe just following those characters in their daily life. I need to know what happens after the end of the book. The ending was slightly abrupt, especially considering I had become extremely attached to these characters, but I’m hoping that leaves room for continuation.
Overall, this was a five star read for me. It was utterly wholesome, even if some of the action did have me feeling tense, and the characters will burrow their way into your heart and have you laughing aloud.
May 30, 2026
Ode to the Half-Broken began as a seemingly simple story about a robot trying to recover a stolen leg gradually unfolded into something much larger, blending a post-apocalyptic road trip, found family adventure, and thoughtful exploration of identity. The world felt lived in without ever overwhelming the story, and I enjoyed seeing how humanity, technology, and survival had become intertwined in ways that felt both imaginative and believable. The philosophical questions about autonomy, purpose, and what it means to be a person were woven naturally into the narrative rather than feeling overly heavy-handed.
Be was easy to root for, but it was the relationships that kept me invested. The found family dynamic had a warmth to it that balanced some of the darker aspects of the story, and Atticus quickly became a favorite. While I occasionally felt the pacing slow when the story paused to explain pieces of the world or its history, the emotional core of the novel carried me through. This was a hopeful, heartfelt science fiction story with plenty to say about resilience, connection, and choosing who you want to be, and I’m glad I read it.
Thanks to Netgalley & DAW publishing for this ARC!
Be was easy to root for, but it was the relationships that kept me invested. The found family dynamic had a warmth to it that balanced some of the darker aspects of the story, and Atticus quickly became a favorite. While I occasionally felt the pacing slow when the story paused to explain pieces of the world or its history, the emotional core of the novel carried me through. This was a hopeful, heartfelt science fiction story with plenty to say about resilience, connection, and choosing who you want to be, and I’m glad I read it.
Thanks to Netgalley & DAW publishing for this ARC!
May 26, 2026
4.5 ✨
What do you get when you mix a sentient, weaponized robot whose greatest goal is only to protect the peace of all humanity with a human mechanic, a sarcastic cyborg dog, and a thoughtful drone? A masterfully made tale of hope set in a desolate world. I thought this was beautiful, brilliant, and maybe even a bit breathtaking.
The story begins with a robot who’s been living in isolation that awakens in their bathtub to discover that their leg is missing. This kickstarts their journey to find answers. They acquire some stragglers along the way that leads to a motley crew of entirely lovable characters who partake in this journey together. Although this book is compared to Becky Chamber’s works, it’s actually quite dark and sinister in nature. It addresses some heavy themes surrounding humanity, the use and/or abuse of advanced technology, and how power can be used for both good and evil.
The technology is very advanced and detailed, so much so to the point that I think for some readers it may feel confusing, but I found it very plausible and believable. The found family trope was executed so well. The humor and hope were perfectly placed in a way that felt natural. I think it’s tough to pull off a dystopian novel with such a plausible near future without leaving readers feeling unsettled, but this was executed perfectly in my opinion. I’ll certainly read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and DAW for this eARC
What do you get when you mix a sentient, weaponized robot whose greatest goal is only to protect the peace of all humanity with a human mechanic, a sarcastic cyborg dog, and a thoughtful drone? A masterfully made tale of hope set in a desolate world. I thought this was beautiful, brilliant, and maybe even a bit breathtaking.
The story begins with a robot who’s been living in isolation that awakens in their bathtub to discover that their leg is missing. This kickstarts their journey to find answers. They acquire some stragglers along the way that leads to a motley crew of entirely lovable characters who partake in this journey together. Although this book is compared to Becky Chamber’s works, it’s actually quite dark and sinister in nature. It addresses some heavy themes surrounding humanity, the use and/or abuse of advanced technology, and how power can be used for both good and evil.
The technology is very advanced and detailed, so much so to the point that I think for some readers it may feel confusing, but I found it very plausible and believable. The found family trope was executed so well. The humor and hope were perfectly placed in a way that felt natural. I think it’s tough to pull off a dystopian novel with such a plausible near future without leaving readers feeling unsettled, but this was executed perfectly in my opinion. I’ll certainly read more from this author.
Thank you NetGalley and DAW for this eARC
November 13, 2025
Ode to the Half-Broken has a very big shoes to fill being compared to two of my favorite cosy scifi series. Unfortunately it does not fill them.
This novel has the fatal flaw of not wanting to choose a specific niche and proceeds to fall short in both of them. It's not cosy enough because of the themes it wants to broach and the way it does it. But it's also not action or hard scifi enough because it tries too much to be cosy. So neither of these moods are explored in enough depth to make an impact and it just falls flat like a sad soufflé. You can still eat it but where's the fun.
It's being compared to the Wayfarers series by Beckie Chambers because both are about found families. Unfortunately I couldn't make myself care about the main character or their companions. What's more is that for most of them, I didn't find the reasons they had to stay with the group compelling at all and kept wondering why they were still here. The only one I liked and understood where they were coming from was the drone Charp. People also seem to love the sarcastic cyborg dog Atticus but I did not.
It's also being compared to A Psalm for the Wild Built and that's just slander, sweetie I'm so sorry they are saying that to you. It has none of the warm feeling Psalm made me feel. It does not match the vibes at all, it's way too action focused. Except for the title (it's a very pretty title), they have nothing in common.
As for the story, it starts off pretty easy, the main character is a robot who wakes up in a bathtub and realises someone stole their leg. And so they start a quest to get their leg back. They meet a bunch of characters (humans, robots, and in-between), we learn about their backstory, and we get some musings about life and feelings.
I did like the conversations about putting minds in different bodies and how it impacts personhood, that was interesting. Also the Ancou virus was super interesting and I would have loved more about that. Or anything truly about the way people were impacted.
But the rest of the story did not manage to capture my attention, despite the numerous plot twists. There is one in particular that I absolutely hated and still thinks it's dumb. And also I did not care about the flashbacks at all.
It was not poorly written nor was it offensive. It just wasn't great. If you want a book about sentient AI please go read Of Monsters and Mainframes, or Ancillary Justice. If you want cosy, go read the books it is compared to.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
This novel has the fatal flaw of not wanting to choose a specific niche and proceeds to fall short in both of them. It's not cosy enough because of the themes it wants to broach and the way it does it. But it's also not action or hard scifi enough because it tries too much to be cosy. So neither of these moods are explored in enough depth to make an impact and it just falls flat like a sad soufflé. You can still eat it but where's the fun.
It's being compared to the Wayfarers series by Beckie Chambers because both are about found families. Unfortunately I couldn't make myself care about the main character or their companions. What's more is that for most of them, I didn't find the reasons they had to stay with the group compelling at all and kept wondering why they were still here. The only one I liked and understood where they were coming from was the drone Charp. People also seem to love the sarcastic cyborg dog Atticus but I did not.
It's also being compared to A Psalm for the Wild Built and that's just slander, sweetie I'm so sorry they are saying that to you. It has none of the warm feeling Psalm made me feel. It does not match the vibes at all, it's way too action focused. Except for the title (it's a very pretty title), they have nothing in common.
As for the story, it starts off pretty easy, the main character is a robot who wakes up in a bathtub and realises someone stole their leg. And so they start a quest to get their leg back. They meet a bunch of characters (humans, robots, and in-between), we learn about their backstory, and we get some musings about life and feelings.
I did like the conversations about putting minds in different bodies and how it impacts personhood, that was interesting. Also the Ancou virus was super interesting and I would have loved more about that. Or anything truly about the way people were impacted.
But the rest of the story did not manage to capture my attention, despite the numerous plot twists. There is one in particular that I absolutely hated and still thinks it's dumb. And also I did not care about the flashbacks at all.
It was not poorly written nor was it offensive. It just wasn't great. If you want a book about sentient AI please go read Of Monsters and Mainframes, or Ancillary Justice. If you want cosy, go read the books it is compared to.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
May 28, 2026
The synopsis of this had me super excited from the get-go. Post-apocalyptic world, check. Found family, check. Quest with found family, check. Superb worldbuilding, check.
This author blew me away. I hadn’t heard of Suzanne Palmer before, but apparently she already has a Hugo award under her belt, and I posit that this novel will gain her many more fans.
The story alternates between the MC, a robot, after “The Conflict” is over, and an inventor/scientist decades prior, when the world is rapidly going to hell in a hand basket.
The robot comes back online to find themselves in a strange location and missing a leg, which appears to have been removed in a most violent manner. The loss of mobility severely handicaps them, and they set out to improve their situation with the mechanical equivalent of a spare tire as a temporary replacement for their missing limb. Along the way, they encounter other robots, as well as a few humans, and they learn some very important lessons about isolation versus opening up your heart and letting others in.
This story is a beautiful testament to harmony and unity, in stark contrast to violence and oppression.
I highly recommend picking this up. It’s a slow burn, but give it time, and you’ll be just as invested as I was.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the early copy. I’m writing this review entirely voluntarily.
This author blew me away. I hadn’t heard of Suzanne Palmer before, but apparently she already has a Hugo award under her belt, and I posit that this novel will gain her many more fans.
The story alternates between the MC, a robot, after “The Conflict” is over, and an inventor/scientist decades prior, when the world is rapidly going to hell in a hand basket.
The robot comes back online to find themselves in a strange location and missing a leg, which appears to have been removed in a most violent manner. The loss of mobility severely handicaps them, and they set out to improve their situation with the mechanical equivalent of a spare tire as a temporary replacement for their missing limb. Along the way, they encounter other robots, as well as a few humans, and they learn some very important lessons about isolation versus opening up your heart and letting others in.
This story is a beautiful testament to harmony and unity, in stark contrast to violence and oppression.
I highly recommend picking this up. It’s a slow burn, but give it time, and you’ll be just as invested as I was.
4.5 stars, rounded up.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the early copy. I’m writing this review entirely voluntarily.
February 13, 2026
What a genuinely lovely and enthralling book!
While I wouldn’t exactly call this cozy (there are plenty of war-oriented robots doing war-oriented activities in a plague-ridden dystopia, and more than a few bloodthirsty humans), it’s certainly adjacent, and much of the novel was genuinely relaxing and simply enjoyable to be experiencing.
The plot was very nicely constructed, with well-paced twists and a very satisfying conclusion; but the real standouts are the worldbuilding (well-researched, engaging, unique, detailed, vibrant) and the character arcs (fully realized and very, very evocative). I enjoyed every minute of this.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC; I truly had a blast with this one.
While I wouldn’t exactly call this cozy (there are plenty of war-oriented robots doing war-oriented activities in a plague-ridden dystopia, and more than a few bloodthirsty humans), it’s certainly adjacent, and much of the novel was genuinely relaxing and simply enjoyable to be experiencing.
The plot was very nicely constructed, with well-paced twists and a very satisfying conclusion; but the real standouts are the worldbuilding (well-researched, engaging, unique, detailed, vibrant) and the character arcs (fully realized and very, very evocative). I enjoyed every minute of this.
Thank you to NetGalley and DAW for the ARC; I truly had a blast with this one.
February 16, 2026
Two parts cozy science fiction, one part dystopian horrors. It’s an interesting mix set in a complex backdrop of sentient mechanical beings and a busted up landscape.
Suzanne Palmer does a great job of layering the world building so you learn more and more of the history of mecha and the collapse of society over the course of the book. The mystery helps move the plot forward. I am giving it 4 stars for the writing style and world building. I would have liked the plot to be less repetitive. We get a lot of descriptions of similar towns.
However, if you love a slow moving descriptive tale, you will enjoy this post-collapse science fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
Suzanne Palmer does a great job of layering the world building so you learn more and more of the history of mecha and the collapse of society over the course of the book. The mystery helps move the plot forward. I am giving it 4 stars for the writing style and world building. I would have liked the plot to be less repetitive. We get a lot of descriptions of similar towns.
However, if you love a slow moving descriptive tale, you will enjoy this post-collapse science fiction.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 26, 2026
First of all, let me say that I *appreciate* the note from the publisher that the dog lives. I’ve been burned before.
The protagonist of this book is an unnamed (at least at the beginning) robot living a solitary life in the remains of the New York Botanical Gardens in a post-apocalyptic United States. This changes abruptly when he is, with no warning, incapacitated, and wakes up to find his leg has been stolen by persons unknown. With the help of a cyborg dog named Atticus he’s able to get a replacement (not as good as the original) and the two of them set out to find his leg, as well as why on earth someone would want to have stolen it in the first place.
The book is set in the late 21st century, in the remains of a world that fell to pieces because of climate change, repeated pandemics, and all the wars that came with them. True artificial intelligence was developed during the collapse, and in at least some places humans and mechas are working side by side building new societies amid the ruins. The protagonist soon starts to notice that what has been rebuilt has started to fall apart; rebuilding has always been hugely difficult, but the progress has been backsliding in ways that suggest coordinated action - and one that is, somehow, connected to the protagonist’s leg.
This was enjoyable and satisfying. Enjoyable because I always like well-done books about found family and competent people working together. Satisfying because it’s nice, given, well, everything, to read a book that is both hopeful and with real stakes. (Also satisfying because of more than a handful of winks such as how the original mechas developed during the collapse were slow to be accepted because of the “useless word salads” being sold as AI by the “grifters and snake-oil salesmen” in the 2020s.)
I hate to give a “perfect for fans of [author]” blurb on general principles, but I do think this is going to be a good one for fans of Becky Chambers. Too many of the books that get described thus are low- or zero-stakes (*Legends & Lattes*, I’m looking at you); not many have that vibe while *also* having serious stakes like the Wayfarers books did.
My blog.
The protagonist of this book is an unnamed (at least at the beginning) robot living a solitary life in the remains of the New York Botanical Gardens in a post-apocalyptic United States. This changes abruptly when he is, with no warning, incapacitated, and wakes up to find his leg has been stolen by persons unknown. With the help of a cyborg dog named Atticus he’s able to get a replacement (not as good as the original) and the two of them set out to find his leg, as well as why on earth someone would want to have stolen it in the first place.
The book is set in the late 21st century, in the remains of a world that fell to pieces because of climate change, repeated pandemics, and all the wars that came with them. True artificial intelligence was developed during the collapse, and in at least some places humans and mechas are working side by side building new societies amid the ruins. The protagonist soon starts to notice that what has been rebuilt has started to fall apart; rebuilding has always been hugely difficult, but the progress has been backsliding in ways that suggest coordinated action - and one that is, somehow, connected to the protagonist’s leg.
This was enjoyable and satisfying. Enjoyable because I always like well-done books about found family and competent people working together. Satisfying because it’s nice, given, well, everything, to read a book that is both hopeful and with real stakes. (Also satisfying because of more than a handful of winks such as how the original mechas developed during the collapse were slow to be accepted because of the “useless word salads” being sold as AI by the “grifters and snake-oil salesmen” in the 2020s.)
I hate to give a “perfect for fans of [author]” blurb on general principles, but I do think this is going to be a good one for fans of Becky Chambers. Too many of the books that get described thus are low- or zero-stakes (*Legends & Lattes*, I’m looking at you); not many have that vibe while *also* having serious stakes like the Wayfarers books did.
My blog.
July 23, 2026
Review originally on Jamreads
Ode to the Half-Broken is a standalone sci-fi novel written by Suzanne Palmer, published by DAW. A rather simple proposal set in a post-apocalyptic world that rapidly evolves into a larger mystery that delivers a story about found family, harmony and breaking from the past, which drives the line between cozier, more contemplative elements and high stakes that keep the plot moving.
A story that follows Be, an old robot that comes back online in a strange location, missing a leg; he lived a peaceful life, disinterested of the outside world, but now, in the companion of a cyborg dog and a human mechanic he will need to journey through the post war world, trying to find the thief. But there's more behind the situation, and it seems somebody is trying to re-spark the conflict; a journey that will not only help him to reconnect with the world but also to find the harmony he lost after he was attacked.
Palmer alternates between two timelines in the narration: our main one, Be's journey through that post-war world trying to recover his leg, opening himself to more robots and people, breaking that voluntary confinement he chose after the war, and honestly, reconnect with the rest; and a second one, set in the past, that shows how humanity brought this situation over the world, told through flashbacks.
During their journey, Be and his companions will be finding more consequences of a world that should have healed after the war that happened forty years ago, but at the same time, there are still elements that could be trying to instigate it. I grew fond especially of the relationship between Be and the cyborg dog, and how it is used as a way to explore not only the concept of friendship, but also autonomy regarding sentient beings.
While I found this to be an enjoyable read, the pacing felt a bit icky for my taste: a really slow start that paired with some cozier elements that almost made me DNF (but I'm glad I didn't).
Said that, Ode to the Half-Broken is a beautiful story, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi proposal that examines friendship, autonomy, and the consequences of war through the lenses of our characters. So if it sounds like your book, try it!
Ode to the Half-Broken is a standalone sci-fi novel written by Suzanne Palmer, published by DAW. A rather simple proposal set in a post-apocalyptic world that rapidly evolves into a larger mystery that delivers a story about found family, harmony and breaking from the past, which drives the line between cozier, more contemplative elements and high stakes that keep the plot moving.
A story that follows Be, an old robot that comes back online in a strange location, missing a leg; he lived a peaceful life, disinterested of the outside world, but now, in the companion of a cyborg dog and a human mechanic he will need to journey through the post war world, trying to find the thief. But there's more behind the situation, and it seems somebody is trying to re-spark the conflict; a journey that will not only help him to reconnect with the world but also to find the harmony he lost after he was attacked.
Palmer alternates between two timelines in the narration: our main one, Be's journey through that post-war world trying to recover his leg, opening himself to more robots and people, breaking that voluntary confinement he chose after the war, and honestly, reconnect with the rest; and a second one, set in the past, that shows how humanity brought this situation over the world, told through flashbacks.
During their journey, Be and his companions will be finding more consequences of a world that should have healed after the war that happened forty years ago, but at the same time, there are still elements that could be trying to instigate it. I grew fond especially of the relationship between Be and the cyborg dog, and how it is used as a way to explore not only the concept of friendship, but also autonomy regarding sentient beings.
While I found this to be an enjoyable read, the pacing felt a bit icky for my taste: a really slow start that paired with some cozier elements that almost made me DNF (but I'm glad I didn't).
Said that, Ode to the Half-Broken is a beautiful story, a post-apocalyptic sci-fi proposal that examines friendship, autonomy, and the consequences of war through the lenses of our characters. So if it sounds like your book, try it!
July 12, 2026
This one felt like a delightful mashup of Murderbot and Psalm to the Wild-Built!
October 27, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
Robot found-family was not on my bingo card for this year, but I absolutely loved this book.
Starting with the found family aspect, the relationships in this book, I have to say I absolutely adore each and every character and their relationships to each other (with some obvious exceptions). Also very happy about the disclaimer that the dog does not die, as I grew very attached to Atticus.
This novel also deals with a lot of more philosophical issues, such as what it means to be human, bodily autonomy, disposability and free will, all of which were handled, in my opinion, very well and gave me a lot to think about.
Especially when it comes to Be and their siblings, and the choices they make, I find it is a very hopeful story for anyone who has experienced trauma, or mental illness, and feels defined by these experiences and labels. As someone with several stigmatised illnesses myself (the ones that get you labelled automatically abusive), I really appreciated how heavily free will, rather than one's "nature", was featured in this novel, as well as the issue of bodily autonomy, even for "the greater good". Again, my own experience as a disabled and mentally ill person might affect my views here, as well as the fact that I am (frequently perceived as) a woman and thus concerns about the loss of bodily autonomy have been rather recent, but I really enjoyed the way that the matter of bodily autonomy was treated, how it was viewed as bad, no matter the motive or potential gains to be made, to force "even a robot" to give up part of their bodily autonomy, even in death.
I think that especially neurodivergent/mentally ill readers will find a lot of things to relate to in this story, and a lot of aspects that are very appreciated and make you feel seen (I also liked how the robots, despite using very technical language, frequently expressed more care than some of the humans in the novel), and I am very happy I got the chance to read this novel as an ARC, and that is just so happened to be one of the first few books I saw after signing up for NetGalley. I might not have found it otherwise, and that would have been very sad indeed.
Robot found-family was not on my bingo card for this year, but I absolutely loved this book.
Starting with the found family aspect, the relationships in this book, I have to say I absolutely adore each and every character and their relationships to each other (with some obvious exceptions). Also very happy about the disclaimer that the dog does not die, as I grew very attached to Atticus.
This novel also deals with a lot of more philosophical issues, such as what it means to be human, bodily autonomy, disposability and free will, all of which were handled, in my opinion, very well and gave me a lot to think about.
Especially when it comes to Be and their siblings, and the choices they make, I find it is a very hopeful story for anyone who has experienced trauma, or mental illness, and feels defined by these experiences and labels. As someone with several stigmatised illnesses myself (the ones that get you labelled automatically abusive), I really appreciated how heavily free will, rather than one's "nature", was featured in this novel, as well as the issue of bodily autonomy, even for "the greater good". Again, my own experience as a disabled and mentally ill person might affect my views here, as well as the fact that I am (frequently perceived as) a woman and thus concerns about the loss of bodily autonomy have been rather recent, but I really enjoyed the way that the matter of bodily autonomy was treated, how it was viewed as bad, no matter the motive or potential gains to be made, to force "even a robot" to give up part of their bodily autonomy, even in death.
I think that especially neurodivergent/mentally ill readers will find a lot of things to relate to in this story, and a lot of aspects that are very appreciated and make you feel seen (I also liked how the robots, despite using very technical language, frequently expressed more care than some of the humans in the novel), and I am very happy I got the chance to read this novel as an ARC, and that is just so happened to be one of the first few books I saw after signing up for NetGalley. I might not have found it otherwise, and that would have been very sad indeed.
June 5, 2026
This had some interesting themes, but I thought the plot was muddled. I really only kept reading for the cyborg dog. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
July 4, 2026
In this near future United States our nameless robotic main character sets out on a journey to retrieve their stolen leg. Joined by some unexpected allies, they travel into a world they left behind and find it no better for their absence. Will they be able to make a difference now that they've returned?
I loved this story! I was absolutely expecting a cozy journey book with a small amount of conflict due to the MC's missing limb. I got much more than I was anticipating. From our MC's past life they are unwilling to unpack, to the state of the world since they left, and much larger rumblings in the background this story packs a punch.
First and foremost, I have to applaud the character work in this book. Having a soft spot for non-human MC's, perhaps I'm bias, but I felt like every character we came across had their own story that received a place on page. We got to know our main cast of characters as they journeyed across the land, but the small characters that helped them along their way also seemed real with struggles and wants and dreams.
This was also quite funny. Many of the places visited by our cast are in dire straits, but there was a small, though impactful, comic relief written in our characters interactions that I found refreshing. I should also note that it isn't just one character who carries the brunt of this burden, although Atticus does his fair share for sure. Each of the characters has a moment of joy and laughter that fits their own personalities, which just adds to them feeling all the more real.
There is a dual timeline in the story, even though the current timeline is the more prominent of the two. I enjoyed the intertwining of the two stories and how one would provide context at just the right moment with the other. It allowed for mystery without keeping the reader in the dark too long.
If I had one critique it would be the ending. I would've preferred to see a little more into the future with our characters to see where they end up. This is probably the series reader in me (I always want more). I do however think the ending is well done and wraps things up clearly and with purpose.
Overall, I absolutely adored Ode to the Half Broken and I hope more people read it. It is an emotional, fun, and thought provoking read about collaboration and caring for people around you. This will be a story I think about for years to come. I will be racing to the bookstore to get a copy for my collection.
My thanks to NetGalley and DAW for generously providing me with an early copy of this book. Their willingness to share the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts is truly appreciated.
I loved this story! I was absolutely expecting a cozy journey book with a small amount of conflict due to the MC's missing limb. I got much more than I was anticipating. From our MC's past life they are unwilling to unpack, to the state of the world since they left, and much larger rumblings in the background this story packs a punch.
First and foremost, I have to applaud the character work in this book. Having a soft spot for non-human MC's, perhaps I'm bias, but I felt like every character we came across had their own story that received a place on page. We got to know our main cast of characters as they journeyed across the land, but the small characters that helped them along their way also seemed real with struggles and wants and dreams.
This was also quite funny. Many of the places visited by our cast are in dire straits, but there was a small, though impactful, comic relief written in our characters interactions that I found refreshing. I should also note that it isn't just one character who carries the brunt of this burden, although Atticus does his fair share for sure. Each of the characters has a moment of joy and laughter that fits their own personalities, which just adds to them feeling all the more real.
There is a dual timeline in the story, even though the current timeline is the more prominent of the two. I enjoyed the intertwining of the two stories and how one would provide context at just the right moment with the other. It allowed for mystery without keeping the reader in the dark too long.
If I had one critique it would be the ending. I would've preferred to see a little more into the future with our characters to see where they end up. This is probably the series reader in me (I always want more). I do however think the ending is well done and wraps things up clearly and with purpose.
Overall, I absolutely adored Ode to the Half Broken and I hope more people read it. It is an emotional, fun, and thought provoking read about collaboration and caring for people around you. This will be a story I think about for years to come. I will be racing to the bookstore to get a copy for my collection.
My thanks to NetGalley and DAW for generously providing me with an early copy of this book. Their willingness to share the digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts is truly appreciated.
July 13, 2026
A 'found family' story set in a post-apocalyptic America. Our narrator is a 'mecha' a large robot who has come out of solitude to find a brother robot from their respective origins. Mechas have been helping humans for years, but some rogue mechas are apparently on the loose and dangerous.
Our narrator has the sort of formal speech patterns that one might associate with the Vulcans in the Star Trek series. Fortunately, there is a foil in the part of a cyborg dog who is snarky and sly. The mecha is often the 'straight man' to the dog, but many of the mecha's lines and observations are pretty funny.
I would call this an uplifting book about a grim topic. America is a shambles and various people are angling for control. But there are other people who are trying to rebuild small scale communities among the chaos. And the mechas try to help, for the most part.
The title and the cover art seem to be making the appeal to readers of Becky Chambers, especially her Monk and Robot stories. While the writing is different and the topic is more somber, I can see that readers of Chambers would enjoy this as well. It might be considered part of the 'hopepunk' movement to find hopeful possibilities in a perilous world.
Our narrator has the sort of formal speech patterns that one might associate with the Vulcans in the Star Trek series. Fortunately, there is a foil in the part of a cyborg dog who is snarky and sly. The mecha is often the 'straight man' to the dog, but many of the mecha's lines and observations are pretty funny.
I would call this an uplifting book about a grim topic. America is a shambles and various people are angling for control. But there are other people who are trying to rebuild small scale communities among the chaos. And the mechas try to help, for the most part.
The title and the cover art seem to be making the appeal to readers of Becky Chambers, especially her Monk and Robot stories. While the writing is different and the topic is more somber, I can see that readers of Chambers would enjoy this as well. It might be considered part of the 'hopepunk' movement to find hopeful possibilities in a perilous world.
July 24, 2026
Can I just focus on the robot, the uplifted dog, and the *post* apocalypse? The flashbacks are too near-future, too close to real life... and too similar to other SF that has been published in the last century....
Well, I'm not too far in, so, we'll see how it goes.
---
Going great. Referring to a grinning scowl the line is, "As if Death would smile."
An old-school mecha can have humor, "It is an inevitable byproduct of intelligence, longevity, and hardship."
And the character who says that the ears of a rhinoceros are marvelous, is, as it turns out, correct. I never knew! Just look for a photo (even artists don't always know what they're drawing).
---
Ok done.
Dang that turned out to be a good read. The other story got easier to deal with, and turned out to be completely relevant. The ending was a little quick, but there's an opening for a kinda sorta sequel which could be fun. Mostly adventure and crude humor, but also plenty of heart.
I love the diversity. The mission was accomplished because human, hybrid, drone, and mecha all worked together... and got assistance from others when needed.
"Be, here, is very good at digging around for any loose blame they can attach to themself, even when it is not sticky at all.
The hybrid dog at one point points out, "I'm not just here as the ... comic relief."
"There is no greater show of respect than speaking the truth."
By the way, I'll just warn you, The robot/mecha does not have a name until well into the book. It's pretty much not cool that the blurb spoils it. But just don't worry about it, nbd.
Well, I'm not too far in, so, we'll see how it goes.
---
Going great. Referring to a grinning scowl the line is, "As if Death would smile."
An old-school mecha can have humor, "It is an inevitable byproduct of intelligence, longevity, and hardship."
And the character who says that the ears of a rhinoceros are marvelous, is, as it turns out, correct. I never knew! Just look for a photo (even artists don't always know what they're drawing).
---
Ok done.
Dang that turned out to be a good read. The other story got easier to deal with, and turned out to be completely relevant. The ending was a little quick, but there's an opening for a kinda sorta sequel which could be fun. Mostly adventure and crude humor, but also plenty of heart.
I love the diversity. The mission was accomplished because human, hybrid, drone, and mecha all worked together... and got assistance from others when needed.
"Be, here, is very good at digging around for any loose blame they can attach to themself, even when it is not sticky at all.
The hybrid dog at one point points out, "I'm not just here as the ... comic relief."
"There is no greater show of respect than speaking the truth."
By the way, I'll just warn you, The robot/mecha does not have a name until well into the book. It's pretty much not cool that the blurb spoils it. But just don't worry about it, nbd.
June 16, 2026
Rating: 4.25 / 5
Format: eARC via NetGalley
Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel set after robots and war have ravaged Earth. It follows one robot who was key to Earth’s destruction but has since changed and become reclusive. Decades after the initial conflict, they are drawn back out as tensions between the surviving humans and robots begin to rekindle.
The world Palmer created was full of emotion, hope, and memorable characters. From the different robots, each with their own specialty, such as combat, rescue, or transportation, to the various humans with their own backgrounds and skills, to the funny and sarcastic cyborg dog, there was a lot to enjoy. I’ve seen this advertised as “hopepunk dystopian,” and that is a fantastic way to describe it.
This story was more of a slow-burn for me. While I enjoyed the story, world-building, and characters, I felt it could have been condensed a bit. Even with the longer storytelling, it was very enjoyable, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a post-apocalyptic story set on Earth that is primarily told from a robot’s point of view.
Thank you, DAW, for providing me with this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Format: eARC via NetGalley
Ode to the Half-Broken by Suzanne Palmer is a post-apocalyptic science fiction novel set after robots and war have ravaged Earth. It follows one robot who was key to Earth’s destruction but has since changed and become reclusive. Decades after the initial conflict, they are drawn back out as tensions between the surviving humans and robots begin to rekindle.
The world Palmer created was full of emotion, hope, and memorable characters. From the different robots, each with their own specialty, such as combat, rescue, or transportation, to the various humans with their own backgrounds and skills, to the funny and sarcastic cyborg dog, there was a lot to enjoy. I’ve seen this advertised as “hopepunk dystopian,” and that is a fantastic way to describe it.
This story was more of a slow-burn for me. While I enjoyed the story, world-building, and characters, I felt it could have been condensed a bit. Even with the longer storytelling, it was very enjoyable, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a post-apocalyptic story set on Earth that is primarily told from a robot’s point of view.
Thank you, DAW, for providing me with this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
June 12, 2026
The setting of this book looked like it'd appeal to me, so even though the cover copy wasn't quite to my taste, I thought I'd try it out. (I'm a great believer in ruthlessly tossing aside books at fifty pages.) In Ode to the Half-Broken, the protagonist is a robot who was once built as the ultimate weapon, but who has now retired to study ants. When a sudden attack leaves them legless, the robot goes on a quest to get their limb back—and discovers a conspiracy which may lead them back to their long-lost siblings.
The cover copy on Libby grimly describes this book as "wrestling with themes of loneliness, connection, and purpose, this hope-punk scifi is for fans of Becky Chambers' Monk and Robot Duology—featuring a cyborg dog!" which is certainly a sequence of words. Luckily, I didn't find the storyline to be unbearably twee, or only about as much as the somewhat moralizing Service Model by Tchaikovsky (also featuring a robot learning about the power of friendship). Ode to the Half-Broken is very self-consciously post-Murderbot, and I can see the influence in its cranky robot traumatized by the violence they were forced to commit against their will. But the plot holds no particular appeal for me: the protagonist wanders across the east coast US, accumulating a quirkily ragtag group of companions as they discover a grand conspiracy. I know lots of people like this style of story, but I think the snarky talking cyborg dog was a bit much.
Very much in the line of Chambers' Psalm for the Wild-Built, so I know it will have its audience, but as someone who dislikes Chambers' work, this one didn't quite click for me. Oh well, it's always worthwhile to check—Poet Empress had a synopsis that didn't appeal at all to me and it turned out to be one of my favorite books this year.
The cover copy on Libby grimly describes this book as "wrestling with themes of loneliness, connection, and purpose, this hope-punk scifi is for fans of Becky Chambers' Monk and Robot Duology—featuring a cyborg dog!" which is certainly a sequence of words. Luckily, I didn't find the storyline to be unbearably twee, or only about as much as the somewhat moralizing Service Model by Tchaikovsky (also featuring a robot learning about the power of friendship). Ode to the Half-Broken is very self-consciously post-Murderbot, and I can see the influence in its cranky robot traumatized by the violence they were forced to commit against their will. But the plot holds no particular appeal for me: the protagonist wanders across the east coast US, accumulating a quirkily ragtag group of companions as they discover a grand conspiracy. I know lots of people like this style of story, but I think the snarky talking cyborg dog was a bit much.
Very much in the line of Chambers' Psalm for the Wild-Built, so I know it will have its audience, but as someone who dislikes Chambers' work, this one didn't quite click for me. Oh well, it's always worthwhile to check—Poet Empress had a synopsis that didn't appeal at all to me and it turned out to be one of my favorite books this year.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley, DAW, and the author for letting me read and review this arc.
What an amazing time I had while reading this! The story follows Be, a former war machine turned solitary robot, and a group of mechanical, hybrid, and human beings in a post-apocalyptic USA, while they try to figure out who is responsible for the new chaos when mechs and humans alike are finally finding some balance.
This book was filled with banter, found family dynamics, great character development, and amazing world-building. What stood out the most to me was that everything that has happened to get to this post-apocalyptic world isn't as far-fetched as we would like to believe.
The story ended fairly quickly and abruptly, while I would've liked to see more of what happened next. But maybe that means that there will come a second book, and I would definitely love that!
What an amazing time I had while reading this! The story follows Be, a former war machine turned solitary robot, and a group of mechanical, hybrid, and human beings in a post-apocalyptic USA, while they try to figure out who is responsible for the new chaos when mechs and humans alike are finally finding some balance.
This book was filled with banter, found family dynamics, great character development, and amazing world-building. What stood out the most to me was that everything that has happened to get to this post-apocalyptic world isn't as far-fetched as we would like to believe.
The story ended fairly quickly and abruptly, while I would've liked to see more of what happened next. But maybe that means that there will come a second book, and I would definitely love that!
May 5, 2026
4.5 stars
Ode to the Half Broken is an absolute gem. It is beautifully written, heart warming and complex in its narrative while keeping readers engaged through an insightful journey packed with action scenes, a found family and an interesting post-apocalyptic plot from the perspective of a robot.
Years after humanity survived a great conflict, the “end of the world”, an old mech organism (aka robot), formerly programmed only to destroy, lives isolated and running from it’s past, uninterested in what is happening in the world. One day, they wake up to find their body vandalised and one of their legs gone. Without any other choice, they form a bond with a cyborg dog, an unethical experiment mix of a biological dog and an artificial intelligence/being, for help in finding who stole their leg and get it back, in return for feeding the starving animal in a struggling world.
This is perfect for fans of A Psalm for the Wild-Built. It delivers on the cozy vibes and insightful moments. But it adds something on top, the atmosphere and tension ramps up quickly and surely, making this more action packed. It also touches on very complex and heavy topics at times, making it a more reflexive read on what it means to be human, trauma, artificial intelligence (not like we know it right now, think of a more advanced approach) and, above all, healing.
In conclusion, this is a great cozy sci-fi that takes it a notch further with action scenes and plot that keeps you hooked, heart warming scenes and character development while exploring very complex topics in a light, but extremely meaningful way.
Thank you so much to DAW and NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
---
Oh wow. This was wonderful and though provoking in the best way possible. 4.5 stars and a more detailed review to come.
Ode to the Half Broken is an absolute gem. It is beautifully written, heart warming and complex in its narrative while keeping readers engaged through an insightful journey packed with action scenes, a found family and an interesting post-apocalyptic plot from the perspective of a robot.
Years after humanity survived a great conflict, the “end of the world”, an old mech organism (aka robot), formerly programmed only to destroy, lives isolated and running from it’s past, uninterested in what is happening in the world. One day, they wake up to find their body vandalised and one of their legs gone. Without any other choice, they form a bond with a cyborg dog, an unethical experiment mix of a biological dog and an artificial intelligence/being, for help in finding who stole their leg and get it back, in return for feeding the starving animal in a struggling world.
This is perfect for fans of A Psalm for the Wild-Built. It delivers on the cozy vibes and insightful moments. But it adds something on top, the atmosphere and tension ramps up quickly and surely, making this more action packed. It also touches on very complex and heavy topics at times, making it a more reflexive read on what it means to be human, trauma, artificial intelligence (not like we know it right now, think of a more advanced approach) and, above all, healing.
In conclusion, this is a great cozy sci-fi that takes it a notch further with action scenes and plot that keeps you hooked, heart warming scenes and character development while exploring very complex topics in a light, but extremely meaningful way.
Thank you so much to DAW and NetGalley for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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Oh wow. This was wonderful and though provoking in the best way possible. 4.5 stars and a more detailed review to come.
July 20, 2026
I think Suzanne Palmer in long-form fiction is just not for me - Finder was fine but not a standout, and I probably would have left this one alone except that I loved The Secret Life of Bots. Unfortunately, I felt like a lot of the personality and cleverness of Bots was missing, and the book dragged a bit for me, even though quite a lot does happen. I was glad for the author's note, which helped me to understand where Palmer was coming from. I can see from the reviews that many others connected much more strongly with the characters than I did, so I do hope that this book continues to find its audience. Near-future dystopia is a hard sell for me, though, and reading this on the heels of Nnedi Okorafor's Death of the Author probably did it no favors, as Okorafor's writing tends to be more to my preference than Palmer's. I am glad this book exists, but it's probably the last of Palmer's novels I'll attempt.
May 1, 2026
4.5/5 stars
Ode to the Half-Broken is a sci-fi dystopian standalone set in a post-apocalyptic near future. It follows an unnamed ex-war mech who has lived in isolation for decades, only to be pulled back into the world when circumstances demand it. They emerge into a fragile society where independent mechs and human survivors coexist in uneasy balance, but someone is determined to push things back toward war. Joined by a sharp-tongued cyborg dog, Atticus, and a motley group of companions they gather along the way, the mech sets out to uncover who is reigniting the conflict, all while confronting the weight of what they were forced to do during the war and what it means to make amends.
This was excellent. It’s a tender story with the feel of a cozy road trip, even as it delivers plenty of action. It has drawn comparisons to A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers for its philosophical leanings, but it reminded me more of In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune except without the same focus on queer themes. While the tone is often warm and comforting, the story itself never fully settles into “cozy” due to some of the action and the constant undercurrent of danger.
Despite its apocalyptic setting, the novel is deeply heartwarming, emphasizing the humanity of characters who may not be human at all. I loved the (initially) unnamed protagonist as they reluctantly step back into a role they hoped to leave behind. Their introspection—grappling with autonomy, guilt, and the legacy of their programmed past—adds real emotional weight. The relationships are another highlight, especially their dynamic with Atticus, whose humor helps draw them out (think Donkey in Shrek, but toned down). Watching this unlikely group slowly form a found family was genuinely satisfying, and I’d happily follow them on more adventures.
Cozy in tone but not in stakes, Ode to the Half-Broken is a moving story about choosing who you want to be after everything falls apart.
*Thank you DAW for the eARC via NetGalley
Ode to the Half-Broken is a sci-fi dystopian standalone set in a post-apocalyptic near future. It follows an unnamed ex-war mech who has lived in isolation for decades, only to be pulled back into the world when circumstances demand it. They emerge into a fragile society where independent mechs and human survivors coexist in uneasy balance, but someone is determined to push things back toward war. Joined by a sharp-tongued cyborg dog, Atticus, and a motley group of companions they gather along the way, the mech sets out to uncover who is reigniting the conflict, all while confronting the weight of what they were forced to do during the war and what it means to make amends.
This was excellent. It’s a tender story with the feel of a cozy road trip, even as it delivers plenty of action. It has drawn comparisons to A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers for its philosophical leanings, but it reminded me more of In the Lives of Puppets by TJ Klune except without the same focus on queer themes. While the tone is often warm and comforting, the story itself never fully settles into “cozy” due to some of the action and the constant undercurrent of danger.
Despite its apocalyptic setting, the novel is deeply heartwarming, emphasizing the humanity of characters who may not be human at all. I loved the (initially) unnamed protagonist as they reluctantly step back into a role they hoped to leave behind. Their introspection—grappling with autonomy, guilt, and the legacy of their programmed past—adds real emotional weight. The relationships are another highlight, especially their dynamic with Atticus, whose humor helps draw them out (think Donkey in Shrek, but toned down). Watching this unlikely group slowly form a found family was genuinely satisfying, and I’d happily follow them on more adventures.
Cozy in tone but not in stakes, Ode to the Half-Broken is a moving story about choosing who you want to be after everything falls apart.
*Thank you DAW for the eARC via NetGalley
July 10, 2026
Rating: 4.5 stars
ODE TO THE HALF-BROKEN is a post-apocalyptic hope-punk novel of second chances and reinventing oneself, as well as moving past—but not forgetting—old hurts. It’s an atmospheric novel that slowly explores, together with our journeying party, the fractured world they are in and the tenacity of the clusters of humans and mecha alike who try to rebuild a semblance of communities. The more advanced mecha, in their own capacity, also try to aid the small clusters of civilisation where they can. I love following found families in their journey, and all the more when they endeavour to fight for a better, kinder world, no matter how daunting that task seems. That’s exactly what OTTHB gave me. Yet, despite the general hopefulness of the novel, it never gets lighthearted to the point of being cavalier, instead holding a balance between the poignance of a shameful past (even if not of the narrator’s choosing, as they keep reminding everyone) and the wilful hope that drives the group to fight for a better future for everyone.
ODE TO THE HALF-BROKEN is a post-apocalyptic hope-punk novel of second chances and reinventing oneself, as well as moving past—but not forgetting—old hurts. It’s an atmospheric novel that slowly explores, together with our journeying party, the fractured world they are in and the tenacity of the clusters of humans and mecha alike who try to rebuild a semblance of communities. The more advanced mecha, in their own capacity, also try to aid the small clusters of civilisation where they can. I love following found families in their journey, and all the more when they endeavour to fight for a better, kinder world, no matter how daunting that task seems. That’s exactly what OTTHB gave me. Yet, despite the general hopefulness of the novel, it never gets lighthearted to the point of being cavalier, instead holding a balance between the poignance of a shameful past (even if not of the narrator’s choosing, as they keep reminding everyone) and the wilful hope that drives the group to fight for a better future for everyone.
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